Lighter



YFume 18, 1935.. G. P. scHMn-T 2,005,478

LIGHTER vOriginal Filed March 2, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY G. P.SCHMITT June 1s, 1935.`

LIGHTER Original Filed March 2, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented'.lune l, EQES MGHTER i 4George Philip Schmitt, New York, N. il.,assigner to Flatinum` Products Corporation, a corporation of New JerseyApplication March 2, 1934, Serial No. 713,643 Renewed November 17, 1934lll Claims.

'I'his invention relates to lighters which employ a catalyst forigniting cigarettes and the like, wherein the vapor of alcohol or othervaporizable liquid is employed for eecting such reaction 5 upon thecatalyst, in the presence of atmospheric air, as will render suchcatalyst incandescent.'

My present improvement is directed in part to the construction of theelement composed of absorbent material which is used in the casings ofthis class of lighter as the vehicle for holding the vaporizable liquid,my purpose being to so form this element that it will present anenlarged surface area to the action of air passing thereover andtherethrough, whereby the liquid fuel held by the absorbent material maybe more readily and. completely picked up by and mixed With-the airwhich is admitted to the casing and drawn toward the catalyst.

Also my invention includes the provision of metallic disk protectivecovering means for the catalyst, rear covering means therefor, and meansfor the establishment of respective iixed clearance spaces between thecatalyst and its front and rear covering means.

Still further my invention comprehends the provision of a transparent ortranslucent annulus, supported in front of the catalyst, to reect the rethereof, said annulus also serving as a guide to direct the cigaretteend toward the catalyst.

Other features and vadvantages of will hereinafter appear.

In the drawingsz- Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a lightecontaining my improved absorbent material element in one form thereof,`and also containing the metallic disk catalyst protector; also showingthe clearances at .both sides of the catalyst.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view -of a lighter having the absorbent materialelement in another form, and showing a modification of the catalystholder.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 ofFig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a top plan View of another form of absorbent material element.l

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. A Y

Fig. 'l is a sectional view showing still another form of absorbentmaterial element.

Fig. 8 shows a further modification.

Fig. 9 is a detail of the holder with the catalyst and its associatedelements, including cigamy invention (ci. sry-i) slidable reciprocallytherein, said sleeve carrying the catalyst assembly from which the airsupply tube and absorbent material depend, the cover being in place inthis view.

Fig. 11 is a section'on the line II-I l of Fig. 10, and

Fig. l2 is a side view of the same, partly in section, with the coverremoved.

In Figs. 1 and 2 let I indicatev a casing that is provided in its bottomclosed end with a pad or gasket 2, and let 3 indicate a cover for theopen end that is adapted to be slidably and removably tted over saidcasing.

A tubular holder il is adapted to slidably and removably t within thecasing l, said holder being of relatively short length, so that it mayenter only part way within the casing, and having an annular bead 5 toengage the upper end of the casing and thus limit the extent of itsentry. Also said holder is provided with a number of grooves or channels6 (one only appearing in Fig. l) which extend slightly above the topledge of the casing to thereby permit air to enter the casing when thecover 3 has been removed.

The grooves 6, at their juncture with the upper portion of holder lprovide inward shoulders 'l which serve as supporting means for apartition 8, composed of rubber or other suitable expansible andcontractible material, said partition separating the holder into upperand lower compartments.

Penetrating the partition isa tubular member 9 that carries theabsorbent material below the partition, and above said partition isprovided with a cupped, radial disk or head l that extends across theholder interior.

A washer Il upon tube 9, near its lower end, forms a bottom support forthe absorbent material, and a helical spring I2, which localizes thetube within the casing, exerts its tension to lift the tube 9 away fromcontact with pad 2, when the cover has been removed, it being one of thefunctions of said cover, when fitted upon the casing, to press the tubedownwardly, so that the lower end of said tube shall make close contactwith the pad and thus prevent the passage of air through the tube.

The features thus far described correspond substantially with thedisclosure in my co-pending application, Serial No. 706,368, led January12, 1934. l"

The holder, as in my said earlier application, carries a catalyst, hereindicated at l3,'and which may be composed of a suitable spongy platinumcomposition or the like.

disk, from rupturing while in use.

The catalyst is flanked, at its upper side, by a thin, perforated diskI4 of steel or other suitable metallic material, but is spaced therefromby a ring I5 of thin sheet material, such as mica, to create aclearance, indicated at I6, between the catalyst and disk I4. Thepurpose of providing a clearance between the catalyst and its protectivedisk I4 will be referred to hereinafter.

The holder 4, at its outer end, is provided with an inturned flange I1,to constitute outward retaining means for disk I4, and thus also for thecatalyst.

Also within the holder a thin, perforated disk I8, which may be of mica,is positioned, beneath the catalyst, and is spaced therefrom under aclearance I9 by means of a ring 2D of thin sheet material, such as mica;a split ring 2| which lies between disk I8 and the cupped disk I Il istensioned against the holder wall to support and unify the catalyst andits associated elements within the holder.

A split ring 22, surrounding the catalyst, is placed between the flatrings I5, 20, to separate them, and this ring 22 is also tensionedagainst the holder wall.

As in my application Serial No. '106,368 a free or floating ring 23 isplaced between the catalyst and ring 22 to withhold the attack of liquidfuel upon the catalyst.

The absorbent element, to be charged with liquid fuel, is shown in Figs.1 and 2 in the form of a pile of felt disks 24; 25 of differentdiameters, strung along the tubular member 9 and supported at the baseof the pile by the washer I I.

Upon removal of the cover 3 the spring I2 urges the tubular memberupwardly, said member carrying with it the absorbent element and alsothe holder with its contained elements. In this manner air, which isdrawn into the casing upon applying a cigarette to the disk I4, andexerting suction pull thereon, is caused to flow over the extendedsurface presented by the varisized felt disks, entraining fuel therefromand conveying the mingled air and fuel up through the tubular member tothe catalyst.

Upon re-applying the cover which presses the f holder downwardly andcauses the tubular member to abut against pad 2, thereby air and fuelare excluded from the catalyst.

The thin, perforated metallic disk I4, used as a front covering for thecatalyst is one of the salient features of this application, and hasbeen found in practice to enable a cigarette applied thereto to bequickly ignited, and at the same time said metallic disk efficientlyprotects the catalyst, which is in the form of a perforated The greaterdegree of stiffness in a steel or other metallic disk, over thatpossessed by a mica disk, renders it a. more ecient guard.

By reason of binding the catalyst between the flat rings I5, 20, therebysaid catalyst is held in a fixed position, and'the clearances I6, I9provided respectively between the catalyst and the disks I4, I8, allowthe free flow of fuel vapor and air over the entire surfaces of thecatalyst, thereby greatly enhancing its reactive efficiency.

In Figs. 3 and 4 a modified form of lighter is shown, having a fuelholding casing 26 which is provided with an outer sleeve 21 that extendspartway thereover from the bottom up, and a cover member 28 appearshaving a pad or gasket 29 in its top, said cover being slidablyremovable.

The absorbent material illustrated appears in the form of a pilecomposed of the alternate, perforated disks 30 and rings 3|, the latterserving to space the disks apart and expose large surface areas withinthe pile.

Said absorbent pile is encased within a sleeve 32 whose upper end isprovided with an inturned retaining flange 33, and whose lower end abutsagainst the bottom of casing 26 and has inturned lugs 34 that serve asthe bottom support for the absorbent pile, spacing said pile from thecasing bottom and forming cut-outs 35 which admit air from the casinginterior to the pile. Sleeve 32, which ts slidably within the casing, tobe removable therefrom, has one or more grooves 36 therein for thepassage of air down to the bottom of the pile.

A tubular holder 31 which slidably engages the sleeve 32 and is arrestedthereon by a shoulder 38 formed in said sleeve, is provided with grooves38 that lie within the grooves 36, for the passage of air between thecasing and said grooves 39, into grooves 36, when the cover 28 has beenremoved.

The top 40 of holder 31 s perforated, as at 4I, as a modification of thestructure in Fig. 1. where the disk I4 is held in place by flange I1,this form of holder in Fig. 3 thus having the thin perforated top diskas an integral part thereof.

The catalyst and its associated elements are the same in Fig. 3 as inFig: 1, and bear the same reference numerals, excepting that no meansappear in Fig. 3 for shutting off the fuel and air supplies to thecatalyst.

The pad 29 in cover 28 is adapted to make close contact with the holdertop 40 when the lighter is closed.

Other forms of absorbent elements are shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8, thatof Figs. 5 and 6 being an absorbent mass of cylindrical shape, providedWith a plurality of lengthwise apertures 42 therethrough, and that ofFig. '1.having a pile of alternate disks 43 and. rings 44, the disksbeing perforated and composed of porous ceramic or other material andthe rings being of felt or the like.

The felt rings will absorb the liquid fuel and .communicate it to theperforated porous disks,

whose succession of large exposed surfaces enablev a passing flow of airto readily take upa sufficient quantity of fuel for reaction with thecatalyst, and will permit the absorbent element to give up practicallyall the fuel it holds, thus prolonging the period of usefulness of afuel charge.

In the example of Fig. 8 I have shown an absorbent element 45 composedof felt or the like, in cylindrical form, and with a single passageway46 therethrough.

iAs Will be noted'in Fig. 9 an annulus 41 is interposed between flangeI1 and disk I4, said annulus being of transparent or translucentmaterial, such for example as Pyrex glass, for light transmission orreflection, whose inner periphery is rounded or bevelled, leaving anaperture whose wall is adapted to guide a cigarette end into contactwith the catalyst, thereby facilitating the igniting effect. Also theuser will observe, in drawing upon the cigarette, a luminous effect inthe form of a halo diffused by the annulus as the catalyst becomesincandescent, which effect gives visual indication that the lighter isfunctioning.

In the modification of Figs. 10, 1l and 12 a non-metallic shell orcasing 41 is shown, which may be of bakelite or other suitable material,and a removable cover 48, of like material appears as adapted to havescrew threaded engagement therewith.

A sleeve t9, provided with a projection such as an annular bead or oneor more protuberances 5U, is slidable within the casing, theprotuberance being engaged in a groove 5I in the casing wall whoselongitudinal extent limits the movement 0I' the sleeve by virtue of thebead coming in contact with the opposite ends of the ygroove inreciprocal movement. The sleeve t9 is expanded in diameter towards itsouter end, the expanded portion being indicated at 52 and having airadmission means 53, said portion 52 providing a shoulder 5t at itsjuncture with the sleeve portion t9, which shoulder, in one position ofthe sleeve, is seated upon the outer end of the casing, so that theorifices 53 will be exposed to the atmosphere when the cover 3B isremoved.

A tube 55, which carries absorbent material 56, to be charged withvaporizable fuel, said tube shown as abutting at its lower end against agasket 5l placed in the lower end of the casing,

appears as expanded at its vupper end into a disk 5t, and atwo-dimensional cylindrical wall is extended upwardly from said disk.Said cylindrical wall at 59 fits tightly and securely within sleeveportion 52, and at its juncture with the larger dimensional portion 60forms a shoulder 6l that seats upon the upper edge of sleeve p0rtion 52.

It is to be understood that the sleeve t9 and tube are in this mannerconnected to thus have unified movement.

The absorbent material is spaced from the cas ing wall and from thesleeve t9, to permit air that enters the casing through orifices 53(when the cover is oi) to flow around the absorbent material and upthrough tube 55, (see Fig. 12).

The spring 52 lifts tube 55 and its associated elements to permit thisair circulation when the cover is removed.

The shoulder tl also forms an inward seat for a tubular member 52a whichcontains a catalyst assemblage such as that disclosed in Fig. 2, andbearing the same reference numerals, excepting that in this example theinturned flange at the outer end of member 62a is angled to impingeagainst the metallic disk lll, and form a cigarette guide.

The cover it contains a gasket 63 to abut against the outer end ofmember 62a and in closing to press sleeve shoulder 54 to its seat andtube 55 to gasket 5l, thereby shutting off the supply of i'uel to thecatalyst.

A particular feature of this modification lies in the continuation oftube 55 into the receiving and supporting wall for the catalystassembly; another feature being that of limiting the extent of thereciprocatory movement of the sleeve, which carries the tube, absorbentand 4catalyst assemblage, by means of the casing groove and theprojection that rides therein.

Variations within the spirit and scope of my invention are equallycomprehended by the foregoing disclosure.

l. A lighter comprising a casing, an absorbent element of substantiallycylindrical form therein adapted to be charged with vaporizable fuel,said element having a passageway therethrough in communication with thecasing interior and being composed of a plurality of members so formedand arranged as to present an increased surface area,' means foradmitting atmospheric air into said casing, and a catalyst supported inthe path of air and fuel flowing through saidpassageway.

2. A lighter comprising a casing, an absorbent I means for admittingatmospheric air into said casing, and a catalyst supported in the pathof air and fuel flowing through said passageway.

3. A lighter comprising a casing, an absorbent element of substantiallycylindrical form therein adapted to be charged with vaporizable fuel,said element having a passageway therethrough in communication with thecasing interior and being provided with an uneven interior surface topresent an enlarged area to the passing air, means for admittingatmospheric air into said casing, and a catalyst supported in the pathof air and fuel flowing through said passageway.

4; A lighter comprising a casing, an absorbent element therein adaptedto be charged with vaporizable fuel, said element having a passagewaytherethrough in communication with the casing interorand being composedof a pile of disks that are alternately of different circumferentialareas, means for admitting atmospheric air into said casing, and acatalyst supported in the path of air and fuel flowing through saidpassageway.

5. A lighter comprisingl a casing, an absorbent element therein adaptedto be charged with vaporizable fuel, said element having a passagewaytherethrough in communication with the casing interior and beingcomposed of alternating `absorbent rings and disks of porous ceramicmaterial, means for admitting atmospheric air into said casing, and acatalyst supported in the path of air and fuel flowing through saidpassageway.

6. The combination with a lighter employing vaporizable fuel and acatalyst for reaction therewith, wherein said catalyst is in theform ofa perforated disk, of a holder, a pair of heat resisting perforateddisks disposed respectively at opposite sides of said catalyst, one ofsaid heat resisting disks being composed of thin sheet metallicmaterial, and means for fixedly supporting said catalyst in spacedrelation respectively with both said heat resisting disks.

'7. The combination with a lighter employing vaporizable fuel and acatalyst for reaction therewith, wherein said catalyst is in the form ofa perforated disk, of a holder, a pair of heat resisting perforateddisks disposed respectively at opposite sides of said catalyst, one ofsaid heat resisting disks being composed of thin sheet metallicmaterial, and a pair of thin, at rings interposed respectively betweensaid heat resisting disks and said catalyst, to ixedly support saidcatalyst in spaced relation respectively with both said heat resistingdisks.

8. The combination with a lighter employing vaporizable fuel and acatalyst for reaction therewith, wherein said catalyst is in the form ofa perforated disk, of a holder for said catalyst and an annulus composedof light transmitting material disposed at the outer side of thecatalyst.

9. The combination with a lighter employing vaporizable fuel and acatalyst for reaction therewith, wherein said catalyst is in the form ofa perforated disk, of a holder for said catalyst and an annulus composedof light transmitting material disposed at the outer side of thecatalyst, the inner periphery of said annulus being bevelled to guide acigarette to the catalyst.

10. A lighter comprising a casing, a catalyst supported thereon, anelongated absorbent elemeuttherein adapted to be charged withvaporizable fuel, said element having a passageway therethroughcommunicating between the casing interior and said catalyst and exteriorand interior surfaces one of which is uneven to present Y an enlargedarea to passing air, and means for admitting atmospheric air into saidcasing located to allow the air drawn into said casing to pass over`said uneven surface.

11. A lighter comprising a casing, an absorbent element therein adaptedto be charged with va- GEORGE PHILIP SCHMITT.

